AMERICAN ETHANOL RACES INTO THE SPOTLIGHT AT KANSAS SPEEDWAY THIS WEEKEND

OCTOBER 2012

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(Posted Fri. Oct 19th, 2012)

Oct. 19: The high performance benefits of American Ethanol will be on full display in Kansas City and national television as renowned NASCAR® driver Kenny Wallace hits the track Saturday in the No. 99 American Ethanol car.

Wallace will pilot the RAB Racing with Brack Maggard entry in the Kansas Lottery 300 from Kansas Speedway. Televised coverage begins at 3 p.m. Central on ESPN, with NASCAR Nationwide Series™ qualifying round coverage beginning at 11 a.m. on SPEED. The race will also be broadcast live via radio on the Motor Racing Network.

“The entire backstretch of the track will be painted green and showcase carry American Ethanol artwork,” said National Corn Growers Association board member and NASCAR Advisory Committee Chair Jon Holzfaster. “We estimate 100,000 fans will be exposed to Sunoco Green E15 at the track, and millions will see the images on television, drawing their attention to the growing presence of corn-based ethanol in NASCAR.”

In partnership with American Ethanol, Growth Energy, NCGA and additional state corn organizations, the Kansas Corn Commission and the Nebraska Corn Board will sponsor an American Ethanol display throughout the race weekend on the Midway, including during the Hollywood Casino 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup race on Sunday.

American Ethanol was formed to increase awareness of the many benefits of ethanol fuel. During the past two seasons, NASCAR has been powered by Sunoco Green E15. In fact, NASCAR has now driven more than 3 million miles on Sunoco Green E15, showcasing the fuel's performance capabilities in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series™, NASCAR Nationwide Series™ and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series™ races.

“Our primary goal when we started was to raise awareness of the performance benefits of ethanol and the emergence of higher percentage ethanol blends, like E15, that are just entering the market,” Holzfaster said. “We are ahead of schedule, and fan support for the environmental and national security benefits of ethanol is already growing.”

"Since the 2011 racing season, NASCAR drivers have seen a considerable increase in horsepower thanks to Sunoco Green E15," said Austin Dillon, driver of the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing entries in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. "Reaching three million miles on this proven renewable fuel in NASCAR is yet another testament to the quality and value of ethanol for my fellow American drivers both on and off the track."

Dillon, who joins Wallace as a spokesperson and proponent of American Ethanol, has had six NASCAR Nationwide Series starts in the No. 3 American Ethanol Chevrolet this year, earning three top-five finishes and five top-10 finishes and leading 118 laps.

Dillon currently leads the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings and ranks third in the NASCAR Nationwide Series driver championship point standings and will make an appearance at the American Ethanol Exhibit at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, following an appearance by Kenny Wallace at 9:30 a.m.

"It's been exciting for us to follow American Ethanol and the Richard Childress Racing team this year," Kansas Corn Commission Chairman Mike Brzon said. "Austin Dillon has gotten a lot of attention and is one of the up and coming young drivers. He has been a great spokesman for American Ethanol."

Race fans also got an up-close look at Dillon’s No. 3 American Ethanol Chevy at a promotion held yesterday at the Zarco66 fuel station in Lawrence, Kan. This Zarco66 station was the first in the U.S. to offer E15 for passenger vehicles model year 2001 and newer. In addition to drawings for prizes and giveaways, customers purchased E15 fuel for $3.15.

"That's a great discount for E15 fuel, which can be used in passenger vehicles 2001 and newer," according to KCC Communications Director Sue Schulte. "Zarco66 has had excellent response to E15 at their stores. E15 is a high octane fuel that's available at a regular price."

In June, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency gave its final approval for the use of E15 ethanol blends in light-duty vehicles model year 2001 and newer. Two-thirds of all vehicles on the road are 2001 and newer, and those vehicles represent nearly three-fourths of all miles driven.

After two seasons of the American Ethanol and NASCAR program, research has shown nearly 70 percent of all fans surveyed support the use of Sunoco Green E15 ethanol to fuel NASCAR race cars. Amongst avid fans, the primary target of American Ethanol efforts, 78 percent support the use of Sunoco Green E15 in NASCAR.